Mold Related Illness

Mold exposures can occur in the home, workplace or school resulting in very serious health effects such as asthma, sinusitis, rashes, severe fatigue, headaches, chronic congestion, gastrointestinal symptoms and "brain fog" among others. The symptoms could be due to allergy to mold and/or reactions to mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are known to cause both neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity.

The first and foremost need for someone who has developed mold related illness is avoidance of all sources of mold and damp environments.  Decontamination of mold damaged environments and belongings is not easy, rather it is quite challenging. Bleach should not be used to clean surfaces; use Borax instead.  The best way to get rid of mycotoxins is HEPA filtration and HEPA vacuums. Most of the time it is best to call in a professional firm experienced in mold remediation.

Difficult decisions have to be made as to how extensive the cleanup has to be; basically what to keep and what to get rid of. Frequently belongings such as mattresses,  furniture, clothing and books cannot be sufficiently "demolded" and have to be abandoned or risk contaminating another environment. Sometimes the extent of damage is so extensive that the patient and family have to move to a safer dryer location.

Mold exposed patients often become colonized with fungus.  This would include skin and mucosal surfaces such as nose, sinuses, throat, esophagus, intestinal tract and sometimes bronchial tubes. 

Treatment protocols commonly involve:

• Antifungal medication-using both oral and nebulized medication such as Ketoconazole (Nizoral), Itraconazole (Sporanox), Amphotericin, Fluconazole (Diflucan), Nystatin.  length of treatment can vary from 1-3 months and often much longer, in some cases, as long as a year.  Length of treatment depends on how long patient was exposed, level of contamination and toxicity of the fungus.
• Immunotherapy-by far most patients overly exposed to mold developed allergy to mold and dust mites. Allergy testing and desensitization to mold/mycotoxins is generally recommended.  Sublingual desensitization is preferred since the mucosal membranes usually have been colonized.
• Intravenous vitamins including high-dose vitamin C and glutathione
• External Enhanced Counterpulsation with oxygen therapy-improves microcirculation, stimulates lymphatic circulation, cellular detoxification
• Intense nutritional support
• Infrared sauna-swept out mycotoxins

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